Matthew Poole and continuators on Hebrews 4:12

12 For the Word of God is quick and powerful , and sharper than any two-edged sword , piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul , and spirit , and of the joints and marrow , and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart .

The Efficacy of the Word of God is a further Inforcement of their studious Labour to enter into God's Rest; for that calleth us thereunto, even the Law and Doctrine of the Gospel brought by the Incarnate Word from Heaven, preached by him to the World, dictated and inspired into the holy Penmen both of the Old and New-Testament by the Holy Ghost, and written by them at his Call and Order, 2 Pet. 1.19, 20, 21. representing all those Precepts and Prohibitions, Promises and Threatnings by which God will judge to whom this Gospel hath been preached in that Man whom he hath appointed. Compare ch. 2.1, 2. and v. 1, 2. of this. And this Word was written by David, Psalm 95. even a Word of Exhortation, Promise and Threatning, as opened before, and shews the Perfection of this Gospel-Law in its Administration by Christ.

This Word like the Incarnate Word is [non-Latin text not transcribed], not only a living Word, but a quickning Word, making dead Sinners living Christians; Souls dead in Sins and Trespasses, alive to God. This Word, the Breath of God, conveyeth Spirit and Life to them, 2 Tim. 3.16. 1 Pet. 1.23. so David experienced it, preserving the Life it breathed into him, Psalm 119.50. and the Members of the Church, 1 Cor. 4.15. comp. 2 Cor. 3.6, 17, 18. and as a Rule it guideth and directeth them through Christ unto eternal Life, Iohn 6.68.

[non-Latin text not transcribed], it's an active Word, powerful in its Effects, the very Ministration of the Spirit, 2 Cor. 3.8. most efficacious and energetical for convincing, converting, comforting; and for condemning, killing: It acts like the Power of God; so Rom. 1.16, 18.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] signifieth a cutting Sharpness as becometh several Uses, as searching, letting out Corruption, or for killing; all which agree to this Divine Word; sharper than any Sword with two Mouths. The Hebrews stile the Edge the Mouth, that which bites, teareth, or woundeth; as Rev. 1.16. and 2.12. The Word for spiritual Execution upon Souls is more sharp, and above every other Sword; there is none so piercing for cutting the Heart, or killing Sin in it. So is it used, Ephes. 6.17. comp. Acts 2.37. and 7.54. It is Christ's Weapon of Offence and Defence for his People, and it cuts without Resistance; with it he is defending his Truth, and smiting his Enemies, Isa. 11.4. comp. Rev. 19.13, 15, 21.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] piercing, or going through what is smitten with it, which way soever it is turned it forceth its way through all Opposition to a dividing into Parts, and separating the most nearly united and close-lyjoyned things, laying open the very Entrails, the most inward in a Man; where the Metaphors taken from the closest parts of the Person are applied to the Soul.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] may denote not so much the natural Life and the Faculties of that, but that which is stiled the Rational Soul as unregenerate, see 1 Cor. 2.14. Such an animal carnal Soul as is purely Human, 1 Cor. 3.3. which wants both a Principle, Light and Faculty to discern the Things of God, as no natural Eye can see a Spirit, Rom. 8.5, to 9.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] the Soul of Man regenerate and spiritualiz'd, called Spirit, 1 Thess. 5.23. The Soul inlightned, renewed, and governed by the Holy Ghost, not altered as to its Substance, but as to its Qualities, whose Understanding, Will and Affections are spiritualiz'd, manifested in its Actions agreeable to the spiritual Will of God, 1 Cor. 2.10, 12, 14, 15. These are both of them under the piercing Power of the Word, and the Spirit can reach them by it as he pleaseth.

[non-Latin text not transcribed] are not the Members, but the Nerves, Membranes, Muscles, whereby the Members or Limbs are joyned one to another, so as not without Incision to de discovered, and the Marrow within the Bones, there must be a breaking or perforating them to reach it. By which Metaphors are set out the hardest, compactest, and most intimate Parts of a Sinner, the most secret hidden ones, which no natural Reason can reach, yet the Word of God pierceth them, to discover either the evil or good of them, and to inflict Wrath, or communicate Comfort according to their Conditions.

The Word of God is a most nice, exact, and critical Iudge, discerning the Gravity and Rectitude of them; it discovers and distinguisheth them as they are, or not agreeable to it self, the fundamental Truth; and is capable, as a Judge, to charge or discharge as its Author will, by it. Rom. 2.12, 15, 16. compare 1 Cor. 14.24, 25. It discovers the most inward, close, secret and constant Motions, both speculative and practical, of the Soul of Man inseparably united to the Heart, and one with another, whether they are Opinions, Conceptions, Resolutions, or Decrees, so subtile and so secret, as who can know them, but who made the Heart, Gen. 6.5. Ier. 17.9.

Marginal references: 2 Cor. 10.4, 5.; Rev. 1.16.